js&cs.thebridge-第26章

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hand…in…the…cookie…jar　guilt　in　his　eyes。
　　Yes；　Kirk　silently　told　him。　Your　ass　is　mine。
　　〃That's　right。〃　Out　loud。　〃It's　practically　airing　live。　Are　you　Otis　Pusser？〃
　　Silence。　A　wall…eyed；　weaving　stare。
　　Kirk　smiled。　〃Do　you　know　why　we're　here？〃　Only　half　a　beat　of　silence　before　kicking　back　in。　〃How　do　you　respond　to　allegations　that　your　truck…the　truck　that　you　this　morning　claimed　was　stolen…has　already　been　tied　to　a　hazardous　spill　off　Black　Bridge　and　at　least　one　death？〃
　　The　Pusser　man…and　who　else　could　it　be？…flinched　minutely　as　each　point…by…point　ticked　off。　Watching　him；　Kirk　gauged　the　best　way　in　and　steamrollered　through。
　　〃You've　been　used；〃　he　continued；　with　utter　sincerity；　〃as　the　low　man　on　the　totem　pole　of　insatiable　corporate　greed。　You've　done　their　dirty　work；　and；　as　your　reward；　you're　to　be　fed　to　the　wolves。〃
　　Pusser's　eyes　were　watering。
　　The　camera　loved　him。
　　〃The　police'll　be　here　before　you　know　it；　you　know。　If　you've　got　a　story　to　tell；　now's　the　time　to　do　it。〃　Just　a　touch　of　insider's　miseration。　〃Before　it's　too　late。〃
　　Otis；　it　seemed；　understood　his　place　on　the　revised　food　chain。　His　face；　on　the　tape；　was　a　revelation。
　　Twenty　minutes　later；　Kirk　left　Otis；　a　string　of　empty　promises　ringing　in　his　ears。　Yes；　Otis's　side　of　the　story　would　most　definitely　be　heard。
　　So　to　speak。
　　Kirk　motored　up　the　Dark　Hollow　Road：　solid　gold　in　the　camera；　a　smile　on　his　face。　His　hunch　had　paid　off。　The　pieces　of　the　puzzle　were　falling　into　place。
　　It　was　the　story　of　a　lifetime。
　　
　　
　　　Twenty…Four
　　　
　　The　sky　was　alive　with　horrors。
　　The　heavens　unfurled　before　Gwen　Taylor　like　churning　smoke　made　flesh：　a　sickly　rippling　sea　of　graymeat　phantoms　that　flowed；　misshapen　and　howling；　above　her　head。　Snarling；　embryonic　things　contorted；　then　tore　apart　and　obscenely　reformed：　wriggling；　writhing；　perversely　ecstatic。　The　forms　they　assumed　were　dredged　up　from　no　great　black　hole　of　repressed　childhood　nightmare。
　　Never　in　her　life　had　she　had　such　dreams。
　　And　though　she　knew　that　it　was　madness…though　the　still…hinged　portion　of　her　mind　screeched　with　vehement　denial…there　was　nothing　Gwen　could　do　to　wipe　away　the　vision；　no　appeal　to　reason　adequate　to　the　task。　Her　mind　was　a　muddled　bog　of　delirium；　but　her　eyesight　could　not　have　been　more　clear。
　　And　as　bad　as　the　vision　was；　it　paled　by　parison　to　what　she　saw　when　she　closed　her　eyes。　The　shapes　were　there；　too；　etched　in　the　fine　web　of　capillaries　lacing　the　inside　of　her　eyelids。　Pulsing　with　her　blood。　Flush　with　the　life　that　she　gave　them。
　　When　she　blinked；　they　came　closer　still。
　　Gwen　slumped；　eyes　wide；　semi…conscious；　in　the　truck's　passenger　seat：　head　shaking　no　no　no　no　no；　cheek　mushroom…white　and　pressed　flat　against　the　window；　a　thin　track　of　spittle　tethering　her　face　to　the　glass。　A　deep；　thrumming　buzz　filled　her　ears。　Her　breath；　when　it　came；　was　painful　and　shallow。　Her　flesh　felt　flushed；　and　chill。　And　her　belly　。。。
　　Her　belly　felt　nothing　at　all。
　　Gwen　groaned。　She　could　hear　Micki's　voice　dimly；　a　muted　drone　of　reassurance；　going　hang　on　baby　we're　almost　there　you're　gonna　be　okay；　but　the　words　seemed　far　less　substantial　than　the　shapes　that　undulated　above　and　before　her。
　　As　the　truck　raced　past　the　belching　smokestacks　of　Campbell　Chain；　a　great　white　plume　of　condensation　snaked　up　like　a　skeletal　hand　and　raked　across　the　sky。　Gwen　stared；　aghast；　as　the　hand　turned。　Its　fingers　curling。　Reaching　for　her。
　　When　she　closed　her　eyes；　it　was　nearly　close　enough　to　touch。
　　She　could　no　longer　contain　her　screams。
　　
　　Melissa　was　on　duty　when　they　brought　the　Taylor　woman　in。
　　Emergency　got　her　first；　of　course；　but　one　look　at　her　condition　and　they　packed　her　off　to　Labor　Hall　just　as　fast　as　the　wheelchair　would　carry　her。
　　It　was　1：04；　Melissa　noted　in　the　log。　Unfortunately；　it　was　a　pretty　busy　day；　there　were　a　half…dozen　other　names　up　on　the　board；　all　of　them　ready　to　pop。　Only　four　RN's　were　on　shift；　and　that　left　her　to　handle　the　two　women　ing　in　all　on　her　lonesome。
　　They　were　alternately　terrified　and　hysterical；　but　Melissa　didn't　faze　easily。　Not　that　she　didn't　care。　At　twenty…eight；　Melissa　Reinhard　was　a　natural…born　mother；　passionately　dedicated　to　the　art　and　science　of　bringing　life　into　the　world。　She'd　spent　three　years　on　duty　in　Paradise　County　Hospital's　maternity　ward；　above　and　beyond　the　two　trips　she'd　made　there　herself。
　　Somewhere　along　the　line　there　came　a　point　where　near…term　histrionics　were　no　longer　a　threat。　And　undue　panic　would　only　spook　everyone。
　　So　when　Emergency　called；　Melissa　got　to　work。　First；　she　paged　Gwen's　physician　and　pulled　her　prenatal　records；　checking　for　aberrations。　The　records　showed　a　relatively　normal　arc：　a　little　high　blood　pressure；　good　weight　gain。　No　major　allergies。　No　previous　incidents。　Normal；　normal；　normal。　Melissa　scanned　the　three　sheets；　fixing　them　in　her　mind。
　　By　the　time　they　rolled　in；　she　was　ready。
　　She　looks　more　scared　than　hurt；　Melissa　noted　immediately。　That's　good。　Fear　I　can　do　something　about。
　　First　things　first。
　　Dizziness；　numbness　of　the　extremities；　heart　palpitations。　They　got　her　into　the　Monitoring　Room　with　a　minimum　of　questions　and　a　maximum　of　efficiency。
　　It　was　a　smallish　space：　two　beds；　a　chair；　and　a　bath。　It　was　decorated　with　absurdly　cheerful　wallpaper；　balloons　and　little　flowers　everywhere。　By　each　bed　was　a　table　holding　a　CMS　Fetal　Monitor；　a　bulky　gray　box　the　size　of　a　VCR。　A　pair　of　cables　plugged　into　the　front　on　the　one　side　of　the　center　keypad；　a　slot　fed　a　continuous　strip　of　paper　out　the　other。
　　Micki　disengaged　from　Gwen　to　allow　Melissa　to　gown　her；　get　her　vital　signs；　and　get　her　into　the　bed。　Melissa　looked　at　Micki。　〃Do　you　know　what　happened？〃
　　〃No。〃　Micki　took　a　deep　breath；　posed　herself。　〃We　were　having　a　picnic；　up　at　Sam　Lewis　Park　。。。　and　then；　when　she　went　to　the　bathroom；　I　heard　screaming；　and　I　came　up　to　find　her；　and　she　was　。。。　〃　Swallowing　hard；　〃　。。。　she　was　convulsing；　and　。。。　〃　She　buckled；　choking　on　the　recitation。
　　〃It's　okay；〃　Melissa　said。
　　〃So　I　surrounded　her　with　light；〃　Micki　went　on。　〃For　protection。　And　then　I　drove　her　here。〃
　　Melissa　paused　for　a　second；　did　a　quick　reality　check。　Surrounded　her　with　light。　Uh…huh。
　　〃Ummm　。。。　okay；〃　she　said　at　last；　letting　it　go；　turning　back　to　Gwen。　〃Honey；　can　you　breathe　alright？〃
　　Gwen　thrashed；　eyes　swimming　over　the　oxygen　mask。　It　wasn't　tanked；　the　better　to　let　her　recycle　carbon　dioxide　into　her　system；　calm　her　down　a　little。
　　〃You've　been　hyperventilating。　That　explains　the　numbness　and　tingling。〃
　　Gwen　shook　her　head；　going　no　no　no；　her　breath　ing　in　great　hitched　gasps。　She　shuddered　and　pitched　forward；　Melissa　and　Micki　reached　for　her　at　the　same　time；　easing　her　back　onto　the　bed。
　　〃Whoa；　easy！〃　Melissa　said；　〃Look　at　me！〃　She　grabbed　Gwen's　hands。
　　〃LOOK　AT　ME！〃
　　Her　voice　was　forceful　without　anger；　and　it　cleaved　through　Gwen's　panic。　She　caught　Gwen's　gaze；　forced　her　to　hold　it。
　　〃You're　safe　now；〃　Melissa　said；　instantly　shifting　gears；　going　soft　without　losing　an　ounce　of　focus。　〃Everything's　going　to　be　fine。　Do　you　believe　me？〃
　　〃I　dun　。。。　I　dun　。。。　〃　Gwen　stammered。　She　shook　her　head　desperately；　a　spastic　gyration　somewhere　between　no　and　yes。
　　〃DO　YOU？〃　Melissa　said；　her　voice　ing　up　a　notch。
　　Gwen　nodded；　uncertain。
　　〃Good；〃　Melissa　said；　squeezing　her　hands　for　emphasis。　〃It's　okay。　I　want　you　to　take　slow；　even　breaths。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？〃
　　Gwen　nodded　again。　Melissa　checked　her　blood　pressure：　one　thirty　over　eighty…four。
　　〃We're　going　to　get　a　reading　on　your　baby；〃　Melissa　said；　pulling　the　flowered　flannel　johnny　up　over　the　swell　of　Gwen's　belly。　〃Are　you　in　pain？〃　she　added；　feeling　for　the　baby's　position。
　　Gwen　mewled：　a　dreadful；　pathetic　sound。　Evidently；　the　answer　was　yes。　It　tripped　the　alarm　lights　in　Micki's　eyes。　〃Can't　you　give　her　something？〃　Micki　demanded。
　　Melissa　shook　her　head。　〃Anything　we　give　her　goes　straight　into　the　baby；〃　she　said。
　　〃I'm　scared。〃　Gwen's　voice　was　tiny；　hoarse。
　　〃Don't　be。　Just　lay　back。　You're　going　to　be　fine。〃
　　Melissa　probed　the　surface　of　Gwen's　belly　with　her　hands；　feeling　for　something　solid　in　the　darkness。　God；　she's　big；　she　noted。　Her　womb　was　a　smooth　hard　ball　of　flesh；　heavy　with　fluid。　There　was　a　lot　of　retention　going　on　in　there。
　　〃Do　you　have　a　name　picked　out？〃　she　asked；　by　way　of　distraction。
　　Gwen's　eyes　darted　back　and　forth　for　a　moment；　searching　through　space。　Then　she　seemed　to　lock　on　target；　smiled　a　little　herself。
　　〃Spike；〃　she　said。　〃His　name　is　Spike。〃
　　〃Spike；　huh？〃　Melissa　arched　her　eyebrows　in　surprise。　She　found　the　curved　prominence　that　marked　the　baby's　spine；　moved　farther　along　until　she　could　discern　the　soft　tiny　dome　of　skull。　〃Well；　let's　see　how　ol'　Spike　is　doing　in　there。〃
　　She　reached　into　the　drawer　beneath　the　box；　producing　a　squeeze　bottle　and　a　cabled　oblong　wand　attached　to　an　elastic　strap。　〃This　is　a　toco；〃　she　said；　holding　up　the　disk。　〃It's　short　for　toeter；　and　it　sits　right　over　your　fundus；　here；　at　the　top　of　your　uterus。　It'll　measure　contractions。〃
　　She　slid　the　belt　under　Gwen's　backside　and　positioned　the　toco　a　full　hand's　length　above　her　belly　button；　snugging　it　down　to　the　arcing　rise　of　her　womb。
　　〃And　this；〃　she　added；　yanking　another　tangled　cable　free　from　the　drawer　and　producing　a　disk　the　size　of　a　stick…up　air　freshener。　〃This　is　the　Ultrasound。〃
　　She　squeezed　a　blue　glob　of　conductive　gel　from　the　bottle　and　smeared　it　onto　the　disk。　〃No　pictures；　but　it'll　tell　us　if　everything's　alright。〃
　　She　turned　on　the　fetal　monitor　and　the　room　was　suddenly　filled　with　a　scratchy；　thudding　sound。　A　stub　of　graph　paper　fed　up　and　out　of　the　slot　like　a　little　tongue。
　　〃This　gives　us　our　readout；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　the　paper　strip。　〃And　see　that　little　heart；　there？〃　Indicating　a　little　glowing　logo　on　the　LED　panel。　〃That　es　on　when　we　get　Spike's　heartbeat。
　　〃Here；　watch；〃　she　said；　feeling　for　the　best　spot　and　placing　the　disk　against　Gwen's　skin。
　　The　room　suddenly　filled　with　a　flat；　rhythmic　thud。　On　the　paper　strip；　a　little　mountain　range　appeared。　The　topography　of　lifer。
　　〃See？〃　Melissa　said；　smoothing　Gwen's　hair　back。　〃I　told　you。〃
　　Gwen　saw　the　little　light　glowing　in　sync　with　the　percussive　thud　of　the　sonogram。　She　stared　at　it　for　a　good　long　time　before　her　fist　unclenched。
　　Melissa　smiled。　〃Okay；　I　want　you　to　rest　here　quietly　for　a　few　minutes；　just　so　we　can　make　sure　you're　stable。　Can　you　do　that？〃
　　Gwen　nodded　uncertainly。　Melissa　smiled　reassuringly；　then　turned　to　Micki。　〃Why　don't　we　let　her　get　some　rest？〃　It　was　not　a　suggestion。
　　〃Wait；〃　Micki　said；　holding　one　hand　up。　Her　eyes　rolled　behind　the　lids　for　a　second；　and　she　tensed；　like　a　cat　responding　to　some　invisible　stimulus　in　the　room。
　　〃Excuse　me　。。。　〃
　　〃It's　okay；〃　Micki　assured　her；　and　the　queer　look　disappeared。　〃I　just　ha